This was mostly because of Brown's foul trouble and because they were looking for a way to stop Simmons.I did not enjoy seeing Wanamaker get minutes. I understand Semi given the opponent but I hope those two sit a lot more in the future then they did tonight.
It was great to see Tatum playing nice D and having so much more confidence in those pull up threes. It was also great to see him get to the rim a bunch. However, he is going to need to figure out how to draw fouls or finish. His inability to finish didn’t seem like a sixers problem, it just reminded me of Tatum for his entire (brief) history.
Yeah, I'm the last guy on the Wanamaker bandwagon, but he wasn't out there much and didn't kill us.Wanamaker got all of 5 minutes. Edwards was given 11, but was off target; must have had breakfast with Kemba.
Tatum looked a lot more assertive last night, which I take as a good sign, even if the results weren’t perfect.
Enjoy, but don't trust.Yeah, fortunately it’s the NBA, where everyone makes the playoffs. I think this regular season will have a lot of ups and downs, but I’m already enjoying the process.
Sixers look like they are bringing the 1990s back to the NBA. They are going to pound the ball inside and see who can keep up. It will be interesting to see how efficient they have to be to make the math work.I wasn't too impressed by the SIxers tbh, but it is only one game
Reddick and Butler scared me a lot more than Richardson/Horford. Richardson did have some nice D, much better than Reddick.
Cs were fine in the 1st half when Kemba scored 10 points (went 3 for 9). Wheels fell off in second half with missed FTs and Kemba going 1-9. They also missed all 4 flagrant FTs I believe, which is pretty hard to believe.
As I said in the game thread, Brad's on an "information gathering" mission early in this season - to see what combinations work (and don't work) and who can do what (and what they can't do). I'm sure Brad loved the fact that the opener was against a team with high expectations on their home court as the Cs had nothing to lose in this game.
He didn’t start him though. There are a lot better f matchups in which Theis will be more playable.How much more information does Brother Brad need to know that Theis sucks?
Theis doesn't suck. As HRB would say, and as Lgtm mentioned above, Theis is really good against specific teams.How much more information does Brother Brad need to know that Theis sucks?
He didn’t start him though. There are a lot better f matchups in which Theis will be more playable.
Kanter holding his own against Embiid was a huge positive, and makes the center situation slightly less urgent, if they can get the offense together.
He played 9 minutes. The Sixers/Bucks are the matchups he's not going to play as much, and when he does, he won't look too good. He did earn 4 FTs in 9 minutes.How much more information does Brother Brad need to know that Theis sucks?
Theis doesn't suck, the 76ers are just a bad match up. The 5 will be like that. The good news is Kanter was the bulk we needed against Embiid.How much more information does Brother Brad need to know that Theis sucks?
He played 9 minutes. The Sixers/Bucks are the matchups he's not going to play as much, and when he does, he won't look too good. He did earn 4 FTs in 9 minutes.
Yeah, we all need to get used to it being center by committee. There will be matchups where Kanter is totally unplayable against starters, and then others (like yesterday) where he’s a great option against a Finals contender. Theis is similar (he looked awesome against Orlando in preseason, because they weren’t playing any power bigs).Theis doesn't suck. As HRB would say, and as Lgtm mentioned above, Theis is really good against specific teams.
Brad is also interested in finding out whether Theis playing with JB, JT, and GH might be able to hide some of his deficiencies. Not sure that they can.
I thought he made things much tougher on himself by looking for contact on his back rather than taking the mechanically easier shot. He got a generous call on Philly's rookie early and kinda went back to that well a few too many times. TBF it did look like he got boned on a couple of non-calls, but ESPN didn't show any replays so it's hard to tell if he had legit gripes.Kemba going 1-9
If memory serves, Horford hammered Kemba on the final player of the first half. Should have been a two-shot foul. No whistle.I thought he made things much tougher on himself by looking for contact on his back rather than taking the mechanically easier shot. He got a generous call on Philly's rookie early and kinda went back to that well a few too many times. TBF it did look like he got boned on a couple of non-calls, but ESPN didn't show any replays so it's hard to tell if he had legit gripes.
That was a tough call. I thought Kemba threw himself into Al to initiate contact and bounce off, but that's a call the offensive player gets seemingly 99% of the time.If memory servers, Horford hammered Kemba on the final player of the first half. Should have been a two-shot foul. No whistle.
Yeah, I don't think that Brad was blowing smoke about having seen a lot of positives. He generally is pretty honest when the team plays like shit. A lot of the issues seemed Philly/early season specific.Some good stuff from last night:
Drives per game:
Harden 18/19: 19.6 (led the NBA)
Hayward 18/19: 5.7
Hayward last night: 18
Regarding Tatum, don't have a full shot chart yet but 16 of his 22 shorts we're either 3-pointers or within 10 feet of the basket.
it felt like Kyrie hadn't left the teamI know it’s one game, I know Kemba really struggled with the Sixers length, and I know the culture obv had to change.......but the level of talent downgrade from Kyrie to Kemba cannot be overstated.
Yeah man but he was guarding Giannis too!!!!
Meh not at all. His numbers were heavily inflated last year with free reign in Charlotte and all the motivation to do so with a max deal staring him in the eye. The difference in creating space for the purpose of shot creation is clearly evident between the two in the half court offense.it felt like Kyrie hadn't left the team
Let's see what happens but just based on statistical output Kemba was never going to fully replace Kyrie's production. And while the "chemistry" upgrade may well be real, its also unlikely to close that gap.Meh not at all. His numbers were heavily inflated last year with free reign in Charlotte and all the motivation to do so with a max deal staring him in the eye. The difference in creating space for the purpose of shot creation is clearly evident between the two in the half court offense.
Am I the only one calling for more Wanamaker? I kid. I kid.
His numbers were heavily inflated last year with free reign inMeh not at all. His numbers were heavily inflated last year with free reign in Charlotte and all the motivation to do so with a max deal staring him in the eye. The difference in creating space for the purpose of shot creation is clearly evident between the two in the half court offense.
Am I the only one calling for more Wanamaker? I kid. I kid.
It isn't based on how consistent Irvings production was over the past few years.His numbers were heavily inflated last year with free reign inCharlotteBoston and all the motivation to do so with a max deal staring him in the eye.
Sounds familiar.
Kyrie is a more talented player. And while Kemba is extremely limited on defense, it was refreshing watching five guys play defense at the same time for the first time on over a year. I'm not soured on the swap even a little bit.It isn't based on how consistent Irvings production was over the past few years.
He may not be likable but there is no denying that Kyrie is really talented and a significantly better player than Walker.
Kyrie is HUGELY talented, completely agree no denying that.It isn't based on how consistent Irvings production was over the past few years.
He may not be likable but there is no denying that Kyrie is really talented and a significantly better player than Walker.
I’ll grant you talent downgrade. Kyrie is pretty much undeniably more talented than Kemba. But talent doesn’t matter much in the end. What matters is performance/production. Kemba is just as good a player as Kyrie despite the talent gap and that will prove out over the course of the season.I know it’s one game, I know Kemba really struggled with the Sixers length, and I know the culture obv had to change.......but the level of talent downgrade from Kyrie to Kemba cannot be overstated.
You think? This is wild. He stepped on the court for the first time in the fourth quarter when it was Philly ball, Korkmaz knocks down a 3(not Theis guy), Hayward misses at the other end, Tobias hits a 3(not Theis guy). Celtics timeout. Not sure what the center should've done on those two plays to prevent him from going -1 to getting killed at -7, but maybe you've got a suggestion?I'm overreacting but the boxscore verifies that Theis got killed last night, minus 7 in 10 minutes. He has to be better than that or Brad has to play him in more favorable spots.
Yup. And both Kyrie and Kemba lost, Kyrie at home to a mediocre team and Kemba on the road to good team. Talent maybe a downgrade, but impact on winning may well not. That's my take anyway.What matters is wins and losses.
It is super encouraging that GH did this against what has to be the longest team in the NBA.Some good stuff from last night:
Drives per game:
Harden 18/19: 19.6 (led the NBA)
Hayward 18/19: 5.7
Hayward last night: 18
Yes, but if 2018-19 KI + GH = 2019-20 GH + KW and JB and JT take a step forward, the Cs will be just as good as last year. (As GH said, he didn't come to Boston to get knocked out in the 2nd round of the playoffs.)I know it’s one game, I know Kemba really struggled with the Sixers length, and I know the culture obv had to change.......but the level of talent downgrade from Kyrie to Kemba cannot be overstated.
All fair and just so we are clear, we are having this discussion because of HRB's post suggests that Kemba had a career year last season ahead of his free agency. Another poster suggested that Kyrie did the same thing.Yup. And both Kyrie and Kemba lost, Kyrie at home to a mediocre team and Kemba on the road to good team. Talent maybe a downgrade, but impact on winning may well not. That's my take anyway.
Can't believe we're having this discussion after one game.
I don’t see how this is even controversial. The hope is that a more deferential guard will lead to better play from Tatum/Hayward, I’m assuming.The difference in creating space for the purpose of shot creation is clearly evident between the two in the half court offense.